Shrub rose plant named ‘Meijocos’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of shrub rose plant is provided which forms in abundance in clusters on a nearly continuous basis attractive semi-double fragrant deep pink blossoms that clean well having a light eye. A spreading ground cover growth habit with procumbent vegetation is displayed. Attractive glossy dark green foliage is formed. The plant develops well following asexual reproduction, and is highly resistant to Black Spot, Powdery Mildew, and Rust. The new variety is particularly well suited for growing as ornamentation in the landscape as a mass planting or for growing in containers.

Botanical/commercial classification: Rosa hybrida/Shrub Rose Plant.

Varietal denomination: cv. Meijocos.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The new variety of Rosa hybrida shrub rose plant of the present invention was created by artificial pollination wherein two parents were crossed which previously had been studied in the hope that they would contribute the desired characteristics. The female parent (i.e., the seed parent) was the ‘Korimro’ variety (non-patented in the United States). The male parent (i.e., the pollen parent) of the new variety was an unnamed and unreleased seedling (non-patented in the United States). The parentage of the new variety can be summarized as follows: ‘Korimro’×Unnamed Seedling.

The seeds resulting from the above pollination were sown and small plants were obtained which were physically and biologically different from each other. Selective study resulted in the identification of a single plant of the new variety.

It was found that the new shrub rose plant of the present invention possesses the following combination of characteristics:

-   -   (a) abundantly forms in clusters on a nearly continuous basis         attractive semi-double fragrant deep pink blossoms that clean         well having a light eye,     -   (b) exhibits a spreading ground cover growth habit with         procumbent vegetation,     -   (c) forms attractive dark green foliage with a glossy finish         that contrasts well with the blossom coloration,     -   (d) develops well following asexual reproduction,     -   (e) is highly resistant to Black Spot, Powdery Mildew, and Rust,         and     -   (f) is particularly well suited for providing attractive         ornamentation in the landscape as a mass planting or when grown         in containers.

Good plant development is displayed regardless of the mode of asexual propagation.

The new variety well meets the needs of the horticultural industry. It can be grown to advantage as ornamentation in parks, gardens, public areas, and in residential settings. The new variety is particularly well suited for growing in smaller areas as a ground cover and as a mass planting in a larger area.

The new variety of the present invention also can be readily distinguished from its ancestors. More specifically, the ‘Korimro’ variety forms single light pink flowers unlike the semi-double deep pink flowers of the new variety having a light eye.

Additionally, the new variety can be readily distinguished from other similar rose varieties, such as the ‘Meilmera’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 10,002) and the ‘Meidarin’ variety (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 13,291). The ‘Meilmera’ variety has a similar growth habit, but displays white blossoms and is considerably less hardy. The ‘Meidarin’ variety also displays a similar growth habit, but displays vibrant orange blossoms and also is considerably less hardy.

The characteristics of the new variety have been found at Waso, Calif. U.S.A., and near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A., to be homogeneous and stable and to be strictly transmissible by asexual propagation such as budding, grafting, and the rooting of cuttings from one generation to another. The new variety reproduces true to type by such asexual propagation.

The new variety has been named ‘Meijocos’, and is being marketed under the PINK DRIFT trademark.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying photographs show, as nearly true as it is reasonably possible to make the same in color illustrations of this character, typical flowering plants of the new variety. The illustrated rose plants of the new variety were approximately three years of age and were observed during June while growing outdoors on ‘Dr. Huey’ rootstock near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

FIG. 1 shows from above a specimen of a single flowering plant of the new variety.

FIG. 2 shows a closer view of the buds, blossoms, and attractive glossy dark green foliage of the new variety.

FIG. 3 shows a mass planting of the new variety wherein the procumbent character of branching is illustrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The chart used in the identification of colors is that of The Royal Horticultural Society (R.H.S. Colour Chart), London, England. The description is based on the observation of three-year-old specimens of the new variety during June while growing outdoors on ‘Dr. Huey’ rootstock near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.

-   Class: Landscape Shrub. -   Plant:     -   -   Height.—Approximately 30 to 45 cm on average at the end of             the growing season.         -   Width.—Approximately 75 to 90 cm on average at the end of             the growing season.         -   Habit.—As a low rounded mound. -   Branches:     -   -   Thorns.—Size: relatively small, and approximately 1 cm in             length. Configuration: commonly sharply pointed with the             terminal portion nearly perpendicular to the stem and             pointing upward. Quantity: commonly approximately 4 or 5             over a stem length of 10 cm. Color: on young stems near             Yellow-Green Group 151A, and on mature wood Brown Group 200D             and more glabrous. -   Leaves:     -   -   Length.—Approximately 8 to 9 cm in length including the             petiole for a five-leaflet leaf, and approximately 11 to 12             cm in length including the petiole for a seven-leaflet leaf.         -   Width.—Approximately 6 to 6.5 cm at the widest point for a             five-leaflet leaf, and approximately 6 to 6.5 cm at the             widest point for a seven-leaflet leaf.         -   Leaflets.—Number. 3, 5, 7, and rarely 9. Arrangement:             alternate and pinnate. Shape: typically elliptical to             broadly elliptical with a broadly acute to rounded apex, and             a shortly attenuate base. Margins: serrulate. Texture:             glabrous on both surfaces and papyraceus. Overall             appearance: dense, small, dark green, and glossy. Color             (young foliage): upper surface: near Yellow-Green Group 144A             with some coloration of Red Group 46A at the edges. Under             surface: near Yellow-Green Group 144D. Color (adult             foliage): upper surface: near Green Group 137A. Under             surface: near Green Group 138B with some lightening to Green             Group 137C. -   Inflorescence:     -   -   Number of flowers.—Commonly approximately 8 to 12 blooms on             average in a cluster.         -   Peduncle.—Approximately 30 to 35 mm in length on average,             and approximately 1 to 1.5 mm in diameter on average.         -   Sepals.—Typically five and sometimes six in number,             lanceolate in configuration, approximately 15 to 18 mm in             length on average, approximately 4 mm in width on average,             near Green Group 137C on the outer surface, near             Yellow-Green Group 143B on the inner surfaces, and with a             sparse number of foliaceous extensions.         -   Buds.—Shape: ovoid. Size: very small. Length: approximately             1.5 cm on average as the calyx breaks. Width: approximately             0.6 mm on average as the calyx breaks. Color (upper             surface): as the buds crack, Red Group 45A at the apex and             Yellow Group 15C at the base. Color (under surface): as the             buds crack, Red Group 53C at the apex and Yellow Group 15D             at the base.         -   Flower. —Form: semi-double. Shape: flat when fully open.             Diameter: approximately 4.5 to 5 cm. on average when fully             open. Color (when newly open): upper surface: Red-Purple             Group 58B at the apex and Yellow Group 7D at the base. Under             surface: Red-Purple Group 58B at the apex and Yellow Group             7D at the base. Color (when fully open): upper surface:             Red-Purple Group 57B at the apex with a small amount of             Yellow Group 8D at the base. Under surface: Red-Purple Group             57D at the apex and White Group 155B at the base. Color             stability: no significant color change as the blooms reach             full maturity. Fragrance: medium intensity. Petal shape:             obovate to narrowly obovate to narrowly obcordate. Petal             number: commonly approximately 8 to 11 on average under             normal growing conditions. Petal texture: glabrous,             membranaceus, relatively thin, and semi-transparent. Petal             margin: entire, but tends to be revolute to a slight degree.             Petal apex: obtuse. Petal base: narrowly cuneatus. Petal             size: commonly approximately 2 to 2.5 cm in length, and             approximately 1.5 to 1.8 cm in width. Petal drop: very good             with the petals detaching cleanly before drying. Petaloids:             typically approximately 1 to 3 per blossom, irregularly             shaped, approximately 14 mm in length on average, and             approximately 8 mm in width on average. Stamen number:             approximately 95 to 100 on average. Filaments: typically             approximately 6 mm in length and less than 1 mm in diameter.             Pollen: near Yellow-Orange Group 22A in coloration. Pistils:             typically approximately 12 in number. Styles: approximately             5 mm in length, and less than 1 mm in diameter. Receptacle:             slightly glaucous, approximately 5 to 6 mm in size when the             flower is fully open, and near Green Group 138A in             coloration. Hips: rarely observed. -   Development:     -   -   Vegetation.—Vigous procumbent thin branches with thin             upright shoots and as generally restrained growth habit.         -   Blossoming.—Abundant and nearly continuous.         -   Resistance to diseases.—Excellent with respect to Black             Spot, Powdery Mildew, and Rust when compared to other             commercial varieties under comparable growing conditions             near West Grove, Pa., U.S.A.         -   Formation of hips/seeds.—Very sparse. 

1. A new and distinct shrub rose plant characterized by the following combination of characteristics: (a) abundantly forms in clusters on a nearly continuous basis attractive semi-double fragrant deep pink blossoms that clean well having a light eye, (b) exhibits a spreading ground cover growth habit with procumbent vegetation, (c) forms attractive dark green foliage with a glossy finish that contrasts well with the blossom coloration, (d) develops well following asexual reproduction, (e) is highly resistant to Black Spot, Powdery Mildew, and Rust, and (f) is particularly well suited for providing attractive ornamentation in the landscape as a mass planting or when grown in containers; substantially as herein shown and described. 